Missing Boater Found Uninjured After 12 Days Lost at Sea

A mariner and his 25-foot sailing vessel are being towed to Molokai after spending 12 days lost at sea Dec. 9, 2014. U.S. Coast Guard Photo

A 67-year old boater missing in the Pacific Ocean for nearly two weeks has been found alive and uninjured aboard his 25-foot sailboat Malia.

The USCG reports that a short mayday call picked up at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday over VHF channel 16 led to the rescue of the boater, identified as Ron Inraham, who was located by a U.S. Navy ship 64 miles south of Honolulu on Tuesday.

Ingraham was last heard from when he placed two mayday calls November 27th saying his vessel was taking on water and in danger of sinking 46 miles west of Kailua-Kona. The calls sparked an exhaustive search and rescue operation, with Coast Guard and Navy crews flying 59 sorties and covering approximately 12,000 square miles of open ocean. The Coast Guard suspended the search for Ingraham December 1 after turning up empty.

Following the short mayday on Tuesday, the nearby Aleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Paul Hamilton was diverted to the area and located the Malia at approximately 9 a.m. with Ingraham aboard. The U.S. Navy ship reported that he was weak, hungry and dehydrated.

The video below shows the rescue:

Ingraham was reportedly sailing from Kaunakakai Harbor, Molokai, to Manele Bay, Lanai and was last heard from on November 25th, two days before going silent. His rescue Tuesday came 12 days after the initial mayday calls.

According to the latest by the USCG, Ingraham is currently aboard the 110-foot Coast Guard Cutter Kiska, with his sailing vessel Malia in tow. Kiska is expected to arrive in Molokai early Wednesday morning.